A's Agree to Terms With 2 Lefty Pitchers

The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms on one-year contracts with left-handed pitchers John Halama and Ed Yarnall on Friday.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated infielder Luis Lopez for assignment.

The A's were looking to beef up their pitching staff after losing closer Billy Koch in a trade with the Chicago White Sox and starter Cory Lidle in a trade with Toronto. Also, Oakland did not offer a contract to lefty Mike Venafro, who was picked up by the Atlanta Braves.

The 30-year-old Halama played parts of the last four seasons with the Seattle Mariners, going 41-31 with a 4.46 ERA in 130 appearances, including 81 starts.

Halama won a career-high 14 games in 2000 and went 10-7 during the Seattle's record-setting season in 2001 when the organization won an AL-record 116 games. Halama worked as a starter and a reliever last season.

Yarnall agreed to a one-year, $600,000 contract with $335,000 in performance bonuses.

The 27-year-old Yarnall spent the last two seasons pitching for the Orix Blue Wave in Japan. Yarnall made 25 starts for the Blue Wave last season and finished 6-13 with a 3.61 ERA, striking out 120 in 164 1-3 innings.

He was originally selected by the New York Mets in the third round of the 1996 draft. He is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in seven major league appearances with the New York Yankees in 1999 and 2000. His career minor league record is 39-25 with a 3.57 ERA in 92 appearances, including 90 starts.